Application of Green Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering: Education, Scientific Research, and Practice

Abstract

Green design and manufacturing strategies are necessary to cope with the current resource, energy, and environmental problems of the manufacturing industry. To meet various enterprises’ needs for green design and manufacturing, colleges and universities should integrate these concepts into their curricula. This study discusses the application of green strategies in the mechanical engineering field from the viewpoints of teaching, scientific research, and practical education. Based on its development and a basic connotation analysis, this study highlights the challenges and urgency of incorporating green concepts into teaching and research modules of mechanical engineering, as well as methods and implementation strategies to incorporate them in professional curricula using teaching method reform and the teaching and research integration method. An experimental training course of advanced manufacturing processes at the authors’ institution was amended to emphasize the integrated application of green design and manufacturing. This integration not only enriches the field of mechanical engineering but also provides scientific research directions and methods to educators, along with new ideas to imbibe students with mechanical talents for their technical development. These efforts lay the foundation for the sustainable development of China’s manufacturing industry.